Number of strikes and lockouts in Sweden

Sweden: Number of strikes and lockouts was 6 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
6
Change on year
up 50.0%
World rank
53rd
of 99 countries
All-time high
212
in 1980
All-time low
1
in 2018
Years of data
33
1971–2023

Number of strikes and lockouts in Sweden, 1971–2023

0501001502001971199720231971: 601980: 2121981: 681982: 461994: 131995: 361996: 91997: 141998: 131999: 102000: 22001: 202002: 102003: 112004: 92005: 142006: 92007: 142008: 52009: 32010: 52011: 22012: 82013: 112014: 62015: 52016: 102017: 62018: 12019: 62021: 22022: 42023: 6

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for number of strikes and lockouts in Sweden is 6, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of up 50.0% on the previous year and down 45.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of strikes and lockouts in Sweden peaked at 212 in 1980 and was at its lowest, 1, in 2018.

That places Sweden 53rd out of 99 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Number of strikes and lockouts in Sweden, year by year

Annual values for Number of strikes and lockouts in Sweden, 1971 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1971 60
1980 212 +253.3%
1981 68 -67.9%
1982 46 -32.4%
1994 13 -71.7%
1995 36 +176.9%
1996 9 -75.0%
1997 14 +55.6%
1998 13 -7.1%
1999 10 -23.1%
2000 2 -80.0%
2001 20 +900.0%
2002 10 -50.0%
2003 11 +10.0%
2004 9 -18.2%
2005 14 +55.6%
2006 9 -35.7%
2007 14 +55.6%
2008 5 -64.3%
2009 3 -40.0%
2010 5 +66.7%
2011 2 -60.0%
2012 8 +300.0%
2013 11 +37.5%
2014 6 -45.5%
2015 5 -16.7%
2016 10 +100.0%
2017 6 -40.0%
2018 1 -83.3%
2019 6 +500.0%
2021 2 -66.7%
2022 4 +100.0%
2023 6 +50.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 60 60 60 1
1980s 108.67 46 212 3
1990s 15.83 9 36 6
2000s 9.7 2 20 10
2010s 6 1 11 10
2020s 4 2 6 3

Countries ranked near Sweden

  1. 50 Barbados 8 compare
  2. 50 Romania 8 compare
  3. 52 Mexico 7 compare
  4. 53 Myanmar 6 compare
  5. 55 Burkina Faso 5 compare
  6. 55 Switzerland 5 compare
  7. 55 Hong Kong, China 5 compare
  8. 55 Hungary 5 compare
  9. 55 Ireland 5 compare
  10. 55 Eswatini 5 compare

See the full ranking of 99 places →

More work & labour data for Sweden

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of strikes and lockouts in Sweden?
Number of strikes and lockouts in Sweden was 6 in 2023, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in Sweden?
The highest recorded value was 212 in 1980.
What is the lowest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in Sweden?
The lowest recorded value was 1 in 2018.
How does Sweden rank for number of strikes and lockouts?
Sweden ranks 53rd out of 99 countries with data for 2023.
Is number of strikes and lockouts rising or falling in Sweden?
Over the last ten years it is down 45.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Sweden data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Number of strikes and lockouts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of strikes and lockouts in Sweden. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-strikes-and-lockouts/sweden/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of strikes and lockouts
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
99 places, 2,354 data points, 1969–2024
Last refreshed

A strike is a temporary work stoppage carried out by one or more groups of workers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other workers in their demands or grievances. A lockout is a total or partial temporary closure of one or more places of employment, or the hindering of the normal work activities of employees, by one or more employers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other employers in their demands or grievances. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Industrial Relations data (IRdata) database description.